Gaza ceasefire Hopefully, this is the truce that ends the war

by Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan

“In this troubled world in these troubled times, each of us shall re-affirm our faith in peace and humanity.” Thus began my column last year, Israeli-Palestinian hope for peace, which closed with these statements, “May peace and humanity return to the region. It is our fervent hope.” 

Our fervent hope has been realized partially. Last month on the 19th, Israel and Hamas agreed to the cease-fire and hostage release deal crafted months earlier by then-US President Biden, joined early last month by then-incoming President Trump’s envoy, and mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the USA. The 15-month Gaza war had engulfed the region since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over a thousand people and took about 250 as hostages. Israel’s response to rescue them and destroy Hamas resulted in the death and displacement of thousands and thousands of Palestinian civilians. That war is now on pause, once more. The previous deal on November 21, 2023, collapsed after a four-day truce.

There is no doubt that the joint endeavour early last month by the then outgoing Biden and incoming Trump presidential camps led to this current agreement. “Success has many fathers,” observed the Guardian newspaper. “When the ceasefire in Gaza was finally announced…they all stood up to take credit.”

To us, it matters least who gets the political credit that led to this six-week truce. It matters more that the present truce, however fragile it may be, has happened and, hopefully, will eventually lead to lasting peace. Already, the world has seen a marked reduction in fighting, the release of several hostages and many Palestinian prisoners, and a massive flow of urgently needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. It illustrates what collaborative political efforts, not partisan brinkmanship, can achieve for a higher societal goal.

True, the first phase of this new deal does not include a definitive end to the war. And consensus may be more difficult to reach during the second stage, which will discuss the release of all the remaining hostages, the exchange of prisoners, the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, the inflow of huge humanitarian aid, and the future civil governance of Gaza. Nothing less than a massive dose of mutual trust, honesty, and sincerity from all involved is required. To date, the phases are ongoing well.

Unfortunately, no one appears capable nor acceptable to take over civil governance. There is a leadership vacuum. Be that as it may, it remains our continuing hope that the present Gaza cease-fire would serve as the path that ends the war and the conflict and establishes peace in that region of the world for the sake of our common global humanity.

Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M., LL.D., Sc.D., M.D. M.Sc. is a retired Canadian Filipino physician, professor, and parliamentarian.